Controversial Rep. George Santos (R-New York) has been expelled from Congress, with a two-thirds bipartisan majority of the House concluding that his ethics violations and criminal indictments warranted his ouster. He is the first member of Congress to be formally expelled since 2002, and the first without a criminal conviction since the Civil War.
All 12 of New Jersey’s U.S. House members voted in support of the expulsion resolution, including three – Reps. Rob Menendez (D-Jersey City), Jeff Van Drew (R-Dennis), and Chris Smith (R-Manchester) – who voted against a previous expulsion effort last month. A fourth, Rep. Donald Norcross (D-Camden), had voted “present” on that earlier resolution.
Asked what changed in the month since then, Norcross’s answer was simple: the scathing House Ethics Committee report that was released on November 16 finding that there was “substantial evidence” Santos had committed campaign finance violations and other improper acts.
“Certainly, the recommendation from the bipartisan chairman and the ranking member, and the facts that were laid out, [changed things],” Norcross said. “We were waiting for that report or a conviction to come in, and this one came first.”
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Sponsor of measure promoting renewable gas to heat homes says bill needs work
Assemblyman Robert Karabinchak (D-Middlesex)
By Tom Johnson, NJ Spotlight
A bill aimed at promoting the use of renewable gas failed to win approval from a legislative committee on Thursday after hours of debate over whether it would advance the state’s clean energy agenda.
The legislation (A-577), kicked around by lawmakers over the past few years, is viewed by proponents as a way to diversify energy supplies as New Jersey moves to transition away from fossil fuels, and still retain the value of billions of dollars invested in utility infrastructure.
But clean energy advocates and others argued the bill would extend the use of natural gas at a time when the climate crisis is worsening, expose the public to increased health risks, and boost energy bills to customers. The Legislature also is engaged in a push to pass a bill requiring renewable energy to produce all of the state’s electricity by 2035.
Assemblyman Robert Karabinchak (D-Middlesex), sponsor of the bill, acknowledged the measure needed more work at the beginning of the Assembly Environment and Solid Waste Committee. Although neither testified publicly, both the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities and state Division of Rate Counsel voiced concerns in letters that asked the committee to hold the bill.
“This is what we need whether it is a permanent energy source, or just an interim source,’’ Karabinchak said, echoing arguments made by labor and business interests, as well as utility executives. The state’s gas utilities are exploring using renewable natural gas from sewage treatment plants, landfills, and agricultural activities as a source of biogas.
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About 800 of the 18,000 lead service lines in Newark have been replaced this year. Credit…Bryan Anselm for The New York Times
WASHINGTON(Nov. 30, 2023) – Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a proposal to strengthen its Lead and Copper Rule that would require water systems across the country to replace lead service lines within 10 years. EPA is also proposing improvements to protect public health, such as lowering the lead action level and improving sampling protocols utilized by water systems.
“The Biden-Harris Administration is using every tool available, the EPA says, “to help communities and water systems Get the Lead Out—including investing a historic $15 billion through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to replace lead service lines, providing technical assistance to communities and supporting the development of a national inventory of lead service lines. ”
“Lead in drinking water is a generational public health issue, and EPA’s proposal will accelerate progress towards President Biden’s goal of replacing every lead pipe across America once and for all,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “With collaboration and the focused actions proposed today, EPA is delivering on our charge to protect all Americans, especially communities of color, that are disproportionately harmed by lead in drinking water systems.”
“EPA’s proposed Lead and Copper rule is grounded in the best available science and successful practices utilized by drinking water systems to protect children and adults from lead in drinking water,” said EPA Assistant Administrator for Water Radhika Fox. “Cities like Newark, New Jersey, Benton Harbor, Michigan, and Green Bay, Wisconsin, have all successfully gotten the lead out of their water systems. Our proposed rule applies the lessons learned to scale these successes to every corner of the country.”
“Here in Newark, New Jersey, our community persevered through a lead crisis and I’m proud of the work we did removing all 23,000 lead pipes in the city in under three years,” said Kareem Adeem, Director of the Newark Department of Water and Sewer Utilities. “EPA’s new proposed rule will prompt more communities across the country to reduce exposure to lead in drinking water. This action is commendable and represents a positive step forward toward safeguarding the health and well-being of current and future generations.”
The proposed Lead and Copper Rule Improvements are a major advancement in protecting children and adults from these significant, and irreversible, health effects from lead in drinking water. Key provisions in the proposal include:
Achieving 100% Lead Pipe Replacement within 10 years.
Locating legacy lead pipes.
Improving tap sampling.
Lowering the Lead Action Level.
Strengthening protections to reduce exposure.
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The United Nations climate summit, COP 28, in Dubai, began with a parade of wealthy nations offering big cash pledges to help poorer countries cope with global warming.
That could put pressure on China, the world’s biggest climate polluter, to contribute money to the cause after nearly 200 nations agreed today to a framework for a new global fund meant to help vulnerable people.
Right off the bat, the United Arab Emirates pledged $100 million for the fund, write Zia Weise and Sara Schonhardt. The pledge seemed aimed at defusing critics who question whether the oil-rich country hosting the climate conference can be an honest broker.
Germany pried open its checkbook and added another $100 million pledge. The European Union promised almost $250 million.
Then there came the United States, with a $17.5 million pledge.
As tiny as it was, the U.S. pledge was notable because the Biden administration — and pretty much every administration before it — has resisted the creation of a “loss and damage” fund (in U.N. jargon). President Joe Biden’s support came only after other nations agreed that contributions would be voluntary and couldn’t require something akin to climate reparations for the damage done over a century of U.S. industrial growth.
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PHILADELPHIA (November 29, 2023) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has awarded Pennsylvania $386,932,000 to support clean water efforts and to better deliver safe drinking water across the state. Most of this funding, $340,612,000, came from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) which is the largest federal investment in water infrastructure in our nation’s history. This BIL funding will supplement the $46,320,000 in FY 2023 funding appropriated to Pennsylvania’s Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Funds (SRFs).
“These awards show that EPA is not just a regulator – but is a funder and partner,” said EPA’s Mid-Atlantic Regional Administrator Adam Ortiz. “The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law ensures communities most in need and those grappling with emerging contaminants such as PFAS have access to funding that will deliver cleaner and safer water for generations to come.”
EPA awards grants to states annually to capitalize the State Revolving Funds (SRFs) which provide low or no-interest loans for water infrastructure projects. Pennsylvania will use this money to help communities across the state fund necessary water projects that some borrowers may not have been able to afford otherwise.
“Pennsylvania’s water will always be a top priority for the PA Department of Environmental Protection,” said DEP Interim Acting Secretary Jessica Shirley. “This funding will support infrastructure projects that enhance clean water efforts across the state, further providing recreation opportunities and protecting drinking water.”
The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law delivers more than $50 billion to EPA to improve our nation’s drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater infrastructure – the single largest investment in water that the federal government has ever made. Learn moreabout the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
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More than 70,000 diplomats, politicians, business leaders and environmental advocates from all around the world are expected in Dubai on Thursday for COP28, the United Nations’ flagship climate change summit.
Each year, delegates from nearly 200 nations gather at the conference to discuss how they can limit rising global temperatures through the end of the century in hopes of avoiding the most dire consequences of climate change, including upwards of three-quarters of Earth’s species disappearing for good.
But this year’s conference could be an especially important one as carbon emissions continue to reach historic highs and the planet approaches potential tipping points that scientists fear could send global warming spiraling out of control. With climate and energy experts stressing the need to immediately reduce the use of fossil fuels if nations hope to keep the Paris Agreement targets alive, and with wars raging in Europe and the Middle East, world leaders face significant challenges at the talks.
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